Rambling Rose to upstage rivals on Sunday

COURSE-SPECIALIST VOLATILITY will square off against RAMBLING ROSE, an equally potent rival at five furlongs straight, in Sunday’s overnight allowance, a quick dash restricted to for horses who are yet to win a race at the level.

Arguably two of the quickest runners in the line-up, VOLATILITY and RAMBLING ROSE have contrasting race records. At age four, VOLATILTY has four wins from 19 runs under her girth whereas RAMBLING ROSE has raced 13 times with as many victories to her credit at age five.

All but one of VOLATILITY’s four victories were at five furlongs straight whereas RAMBLING ROSE has proven more versatile, effective on the round course as she is deadly out the Gregory Park chute.

However, VOLATILITY’s frequency at the races, as opposed to RAMBLING ROSE disappearing for eight months after slamming KP CHOICE at five furlongs straight last May, could be cause for concern.

Despite returning with two eye-catching efforts on the round course, leading SENSATIONAL MOVE into the lane January 28 and pointing off the turn three weeks later in the Ash Wednesday Trophy, RAMBLING ROSE having to be pulled up in the six-and-a-half furlong event makes her fitness suspect.

VOLATILITY is the horse to beat on paper should soundness be the determinant between the two course specialists. The Hedge Fund-Fashionista filly failed to figure at six furlongs a week ago behind RHYTHM BUZZ but returns to her happy hunting ground, five furlongs straight, where she has twice won this year and finished three lengths off BOOTYLICIOUS beating ABILITY three weeks ago.

Though VOLATILITY appears to be sounder than RAMBLING ROSE, track bias will count. VOLATILITY breaks from post seven whereas RAMBLING ROSE is drawn dead along the stands’ side at post-position 11, the exact stall she broke from when making all against K P CHOICE last May.

It should be noted that RAMBLING ROSE returned to cantering two weeks after the Ash Wednesday Trophy, suggesting she might have been exhausted, not lame, when pulled up by Youville Pinnock, who was aboard for two of her last three wins.

Reporting five pounds lighter than VOLATILITY with the track bias in her favour, RAMBLING ROSE could dispel fitness concerns to upstage her more consistent rival, who will have to angle across THE GOOD WITCH, who has an outside shot should the speedsters fail to clear their respective hurdles.